Itami Onigoroshi, The demon killer from Itami, Japan, is a junmai sake.  This entry is a light and very dry sake.    It is pleasantly sweet without being fruity with a crisp clean dry taste that is slightly acidic.   It has no after-taste to speak of and would go well with other light food.    Unfortunately it is very difficult to find the 720ml bottle,  so you may only find the 1.8L bottle.   Even, with a large bottle this fine sake will not last long.   Should always be served chilled.

1.8L  $25.50

Hakutsuru (White Crane) is a Junmai Sake made in Kobe, Japan.    I  have sampled many different sakes from very cheap to very expensive, and Hakutsuru is I think the best value within the USA.   It can be served both hot and cold without losing it’s character.   It is a clean, slightly sweet without being a fruity sake.  It also has an acidity to wake up the senses with only a slight tail on the back end.   Because of it’s price per volume value, this is my standard drinking sake.

1.8 Liter  $16.00

A few nights ago, I sampled a recently purchased sake called Ai San San (“Love Brilliant”).  This sake is a Junmai from the Seiryo Shuzo Co. in Ehime Prefecture,  Shikoku Japan.    Upon opening it I could smell apple aromas coming from the bottle.   First sip revealed a smooth sweet drink with no tail.   The drink contained fruity and slightly sour flavors which mixed together give the drink an overall tangy flavor.  Unfortunately this was not at all to my liking so the bottle was left unfinished.

300ml $13.00